ACLAND FIGHTING FUND

Please chip in to support the legal appeal on the Acland Stage 3 coal mine on the Darling Downs.

Last year, the Land Court found recommended against the mine because the impacts on groundwater would be too severe and the noise and dust impacts too great. You can read a short summary of the Land Court decision here. Then earlier this year, the Queensland environment department rejected an Environmental Authority for the mine.

But New Hope Coal appealed the Land Court decision, and the Supreme Court found in their favour, ruling that the Land Court did not have the jurisdiction to reject the mine on groundwater grounds.

That represents a major change in legal interpretation which will also mean groundwater can not be considered by the Land Court in future legal cases against coal mines.

However, local farmers have now lodged their own appeal to the Supreme Court decision, in a bid to stop this damaging project once and for all.

This legal challenge is the final hurdle. If the farmers succeed, then the project will be finished. Please chip in to help them get it across the line. It's a fight for the Great Artesian Basin and the right to protect groundwater statewide - and we can't afford to lose.